DIY Mirror Frame
This DIY mirror frame is a simple build that will upgrade your bathroom to the next level!
More bathroom ideas: How to raise a vanity – How to install a pocket door – Installing a Penny Tile Backsplash + Floating Shelf
Tutorial: DIY Mirror Frame
The frame is installed using mirror adhesive and nails making it a simple build with huge impact!
Tools needed for DIY Mirror Frame
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Miter Saw
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Drill
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Caulking Gun
Materials needed for DIY Mirror Frame
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(1) 1x6x8’ MDF board
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(2) 1x4x8’ MDF boards
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(7’) 4-1/4 in. x 1/2 in. MDF Crown Molding
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(1) Liquid Nails Mirror Adhesive
- Scrap wood or shims
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(2) 3-light Vanity Light Fixtures
Building a DIY Mirror Frame
First, let’s take a look at the before picture:
The 8-light open-bulb horizontal light fixture and frameless large mirror flush with the vanity did get the job done, but definitely left room for improvement, right?!?
Let’s get to it!
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 1: Remove the light and adjust the placement of the mirror.
Cassity decided that she wanted the mirror to hang above the vanity, not rest on the backsplash. It was a good choice, but required us to remove the mirror and re-hang it. We used the same hardware that it was hanging on before and made sure to secure the mirror very well.
If your mirror doesn’t need adjusting, skip this part, but do make sure the hardware is installed well and the mirror is secure.
You can also see that we had started the process of raising the vanity height. Never just one project at a time for this #remodelaholic!
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 2: The bottom and sides
We wanted the mirror frame to hang over the mirror by about 2 inches, so we measured and cut our bottom piece accordingly. For the side pieces, we wanted them flush with the bottom piece and also flush with the top piece of the frame. This meant cutting the side pieces slightly shorter than the distance from the bottom piece to the top edge of the mirror (see installation pictures below for a visual).
If your mirror has hardware that wraps to the front of the mirror, you will have the same problem we did: you cannot glue the board flush to the mirror.
Using my multi-tool I was able to cut the notch perfectly! We planned it out so the frame sat level on the notch to help hold it in place while the glue dried.
Next, install scrap wood or shims that are the same depth as your mirror. (The shims aren’t complete in the photo below and one is already covered, but you get the idea.)
Then, using the mirror construction adhesive, glue the bottom (which is already done in the picture above) and two sides of the frame to the mirror. We also nailed the frame pieces to the wall through just the over hanging portion (not through the mirror!) to secure it.
Here is the bottom in place and the sides going up.
(Notice the side pieces are shorter than the top of the mirror, as mentioned earlier.)
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 3: The top
We set the top frame in place then screwed it to the wall near the top and where the new lights would go. We chose to screw it in, not glue it in place to allow us access to the original electrical box if needed in the future.
Next it was time to add the crown trim. Crown molding is like icing on the cake, don’t you think? It makes everything look complete.
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 4: Caulk and paint
After adding caulk and a couple coats of paint, here is our DIY mirror frame that makes the whole bathroom look better!
You can see here that, with the lights hanging down below the frame, we get twice the amount of light because of the reflection in the mirror. This is so much better than the light fixture that was there before!
And now the final picture with the mirror framed, new light fixtures installed, vanity raised and cabinets painted:
We love it!
How did yours turn out? Let us know! And you might enjoy seeing all of our Park House projects.
More Mirror Ideas:
- Modern “Sunrise” Floating Mirror and Shelf
- How to Remove (and Reuse) a Large Builder Grade Mirror
- DIY Faux Gold Mirror Makeover
- Master Bathroom Renovation with Sliding Mirror Over the Window
- How to make a floor mirror
- Build a Trumeau mirror
Please pin this for later!
This post originally published 11/28/2012 — Updated 05/14/2021
Love the idea! I also have old mirrors that need a frame. Wondering how to have them cut smaller without transporting them, we have a truck, but how would you transport a mirror without damage? I’m guessing y’all bypassed that by moving the mirror up a bit?!
Laura, you could transport it on a cushion under a piece of plywood and drive carefully, to a place that you could have it cut. And yes all we had to do was raise ours up. We are glad that you love it.
beautiful!
What did you use to redo the cabinets?
Thanks, we used wood to raise it up and then painted them.
I love this tutorial and am highly considering doing something similar with my bathroom. I can’t tell you how much alike this vanity is to my current vanity…. even the lighting.
A couple questions:
1) Can you get by without a miter saw? Could you use the Multi-Tool to cut through the wood if need be?
2) Did you raise the mirror from its original location?
3) Did you need to create an additional socket for the electrical (for the two pieces of lighting), or could you run the electrical out of the one, original socket?
Thanks
Crystal, good questions. Answers: 1) yes you can use other cutting tools. Just cut a nice straight line and sand the edges. 2) Yes we raised it up slightly. 3) We used the existing switch. Just make sure to have an electrical box behind your light fixture for the wiring. If you know an electrician it would be best to talk to him though.
I hope that helps. Good luck!
What color of paint did you use in this bathroom????
Amber, it was a gray mis-mix paint that we found for $5. Unfortunately we don’t have a name for you. We love the color though!
I stumbled upon your post on the sidebar of something else I was reading and all I have to say is, it is truly a blessing!!!! I have the exact mirror and have been dying to frame it! I put similar light fixtures above the mirror, but never did I picture doing it this way! Thank you so much for sharing this! This is also my way of saying I’m using your idea, lol. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
YAY! Good Luck Jennifer, I hope you love it when you are done!
What size is the mirror you worked with? I’d like to know what size MDF I’ll need for my project. This looks amazing! Great job!
Courtney, I think that the mirror was 3′ x 6′. Thanks for the comment.
Hi,
I have the same mirror and vanity in my master bath and love how you framed the mirror. I am curious, in addition to raising the vanity, did you also paint it — or is that a new vanity?
Thanks
Linda, we raised up the countertop on the existing vanity and painted it. The existing vanity never moved. It was an easy fix. Thanks for the comment.
I have the very same type mirror and lights (my light have mirrors as well) Doing a Master Bath redo very soon so I’m glad I came across your post! And I like the soft grey on the wall.
Thanks JoAnn! Good luck with your bathroom!
Question…
What did you do about the small gap between the wood and the wall? I assume that there is a small one since the wood was glued to the mirror.
Joy, I talked about this in the post, but I just left it. It just looks like a picture frame hanging on the wall, it isn’t offensive at all, and the paint went under the frame so the line was nice and clean. I was afraid that when we got into patching it and caulking it, that because our walls are heavily textured, I would have never been able to have a clean paint line, so I just left the gap as is.
The project looks amazing, and I’m excited to start a copycat of my own 🙂 my question is how did you do the corners of the crown molding? I can’t seem to figure that part out. And did you end up painting the frame once completed? Or your molding just happened to be a perfect match with the MDF?
Kristi, we pre-painted the moldings before they went up in place. I also had to glue the corner of the crown molding in place, because it was so small. You have to miter the crown corner for a small piece. There is a picture of me gluing the piece on. I hope that helps.
Well, like everyone else I’m going to do the same thing. My question is what size (thickness) were the firing strips that you used? Also for all the electrical questions, just goto your Home Store and get 2 round “old work” and 1 square “old work” junction boxes (these are the ones with the tabs). I like most just had a wire sticking through the wall to power the old light bar. Use the square for your center split to the other rounds. I did have to cut through one stud and just used a 5/8 spade bit to drill the hole for the wire. I’ll try to embed a picture.
Glen, about the firing strips, if you are refering to the frame thickness they are 5/8″ actual thickness. If you are talking about the spacer behind the frame, it was about 1/2″. It just depends on how far off the wall your mirror sits. I hope that helps!
We have almost the exact same set up in our bathroom including that light. I love this idea and would like to do this, too. Was it difficult to rewire one light for 2 lights? (An electrician I am not)
My hubby has done a lot of electrical work and we’ve worked with several electricians over the years…. I think in order to be safe, it might be best to get the help. But the work is not too hard, you just need guidance the first few times you do something. (often times we get help for our electrician friends and trade them for work)
Hi, question about installing the frame. How did the bottom molding stay in place while it dried? Did you use tape? I did this once before, but rested the molding on the backsplash so it wasn’t an issue. I’d love to raise it up.
Wendy, the bottom frame is sitting on the mirror hardware that is holding it to the wall. I also nailed the ends to the wall, because they overhung the mirror. You could use tape if you have too, as well.
Completely inspired by this! Would you mind sharing your painting process? I apologize in advance if I oversaw a previous post that explains this!
Nora, we painted the pieces before we installed them. Then we patched the holes from the nails and painted one last time.
Love this framed mirror look! What color did you paint the walls of the bathroom? I love the color.
It was a mis mixed paint! Sorry I don’t have the color! Maybe try Sherwin Williams Chip it.
Justin and Cassity,
I love your blog! You guys are so talented! Can you please tell me how you made your vanity look so good? Is it oak? I’ve hear that it’s not a good idea to paint oak, so I’ve resisted my urges to paint. But your work turned out so nice that I’m wondering if I should reconsider painting mine. Is there a trick to it? Have you ever regretted painting oak?
Thanks for any advice you can give me, and thanks for all your posts! I love reading them!
Jennifer
Really wish you would have put the shims in the list of materials. Maybe I’m an idiot but we went to do this to our mirror, didn’t realize we needed the shims till too late and now have to wait till the home improvement store is open tomorrow to finish… pretty sure you never even mentioned shims…
Sorry, we didn’t use shims, which is why I didn’t mention them.
MDF in a bathroom? Not a builder, but MDF may not be the best material in a steamy room
Can you tell me how you ran the wires to make one light into 2? I have the same set up an would love to do something like this.
Thanks
you need to run two new boxes from the existing one. the wood covers up the boxes and is removable.
alwayus i used to read smaller articles or reviews which also clear their motive, and that is also happoening with this piece of
writing which I am reawding now.
Wow! Have to redo a client’s bathroom and this just comes in handy. The mirror us a floating one and I’d love to throw a nice frame around it. Thanks a great deal.